Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 08

Once finished with their planning session, the three friends sat around the fire with a couple of Marines. Colonel Owens was there and laughing right along with the rest of them.

"Colonel, do you want us to stand a watch?" Gillian asked.

"Oh... I don't know. Maybe in your ships, if you would be amicable to that," Laff replied.

"Sure no problem. Pat, you're on second watch. Jordan you're third. I'll take the first watch. You two better get off to bed," Gillian told her scout ship pilots.

"Right," Jordan replied getting up and heading for her ship.

Pat followed to her ship, waving goodnight to everyone.

"So, they aren't sleeping out with us?" Laff asked chuckling.

"I guess not," Gillian replied. "Plus, their ships don't require sleep and can scan all night for... intruders."

Laff nodded.

"Okay."

"Cass, can you ground so I can get aboard?" Gillian asked.

Caster, grounded on the outside of Hunter. Gillian grinned at Laff and headed off to her ship. She stopped two steps away from the fire and turned back to Laff.

"Would you like to join me?" Gillian asked.

Laff's eyes got big. He coughed. Then coughed again.

"Uh, I don't..."

"No problem, Colonel. See you in the morning."

Gillian turned and headed to her ship.

~~~~ WO ~~~~

The talks with the Laflureians lasted another two hours. After that, they were just able to chat with each other for twenty minutes or so. When Quinlan yawned, Bid looked at him.

"What was that you said?" asked Bid.

"I didn't say anything, Bid. I yawned... the human body does that when it is tired. It has been a long day for us, Bid."

Turning Bid looked at Bek she nodded. Bid nodded and turned back to Ezra.

"What is your time standard?" Bid asked.

Nodding, Ezra said, "Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Months, and Years. Does that make sense to you?"

"Seconds?"

"The time it takes our world to turn one degree of arc in its rotation," Ezra replied.

"And is the standard for the arc a circle? And how many degrees?"

"Yes. For us, there are 360 degrees in the arc of a circle."

"Year?" asked bid.

"The time it takes for our planet to orbit its star."

"I see. So, 60 seconds to a minute, 60 minutes to an hour. Day?" asked Bid.

"24 hours in a day, the time it takes the planet to rotate around its axis."

"Months?"

"Now that is a little more complicated. A year is approximately 365 days, give or take a day. There are 12 months in a year. Half the months have 30 days, the other half have 31 days, except one, which has 28 days. But every four years an extra day is added to the month with 28 days to catch up with the extra minutes that it takes for our planet to orbit our sun."

"What?" Bid said looking confused.

"Yeah, unless you grew up with it, it is quite confusing. It is now 19 hours since we woke this morning and we use a 24-hour cycle. What is your time standard?"

"It is also based on our home planet's rotation but, our planet rotates slower than yours. Thirty-one of your hours. And I would bet the rest of our time standard would be just as confusing to you, except for what you call a year. That too is based on our planet's orbit."

"I see, but seconds, minutes, hours are about the same?" asked Ezra.

"Close. Very close, in fact. We will leave you now so you can rest. Call us when you have rested. We will meet again for further discussions."

"Thank you, we will," Ezra replied nodding.

Ezra escorted the Laflureians to their shuttle. They all waved as they got in. The shuttle rose and zipped out of the bay, right through the plastisteel doors, without breaking them. Ezra eyes wide gasped.

"Well, good thing they are friendly," he said.

Quinlan just grunted. Tanner gasped.

"And did you see it split into three as they each headed to their own ships?" asked Ezra.

Both Quinlan and Tanner just nodded.

~~~~ WO ~~~~

Gillian was in her seat as Caster scanned the surrounding area. Watching the screens in front of her intently, she sighed.

"Inbound. Three beings, traveling fast from the northwest," Cass said as the blips appeared on one of the screens.

"Colonel," Gillian said pressing her comm button, "three beings inbound from the northwest."

"Roger," Laff replied.

Caster was turning to face the creatures coming toward them.

"Three snow bears," Caster said.

"Three of the bear-like creatures headed our way Colonel."

"Arrival time three minutes," Cass said.

"Three minutes, Colonel."

Gillian watched as the creatures slowed, as they got closer. Then Cass was moving toward them. Gillian didn't say anything, just watched the screen and out of her viewport. The three stopped. Cass stopped. The bears were looking up at Cass. The three creatures turned and ran the other way.

"You scared them off," Gillian said.

"It would seem so."

"Colonel, bears leaving the area. It would appear they have run into flying things in the past and remember."

"Continue to scan," Laff said.

"Roger," replied Gillian. "Cass, back over the camp."

"Yes, Ma'am."

For the rest of her watch, nothing more happened. When Jordan took over, Gillian went to bed.

Caster and Hunter changed positions. As Jordan checked her screens, Caster updated Hunter on what had happened since Jordan had gone to sleep. Jordan read what had happened as Hunter placed herself over the camp. The camp was quiet for the rest of the night. Hunter did note the changing of the guard down in the camp and told Jordan. Jordan nodded watching her screens.

When the sun started to come up, Rider switched places with Hunter. Hunter informed Rider what had gone on all night. Rider informed Pat. Jordan decided she could get a couple of hours of sleep before anyone bothered her. She was a little short on sleep and knew she would continue to be, for how long, she didn't know.

~~~~ WO ~~~~

The meetings with the Laflureians over the last few days were productive. Three FOP diplomats showed up the second day to provide their services to the Admiral. The Admiral still conducted the meeting and the Laflureians accepted the diplomats as part of the proceedings. However, on the fourth day, six Laflureians showed up for the meetings.

"Admiral may I introduce, P'ak D'shun, P'ed D'cal, and P'li D'sec. Ladies, Admiral Ezra Nichols, of the FOP ship Warrior One," Bid said.

Bid then bowed to the women and sat down. Ezra looked at the three. The two on the end looked at the one in the middle.

"Will you introduce us to your three diplomats?" P'ed asked.

"Of course, but may I ask a question first?" Ezra asked.

"Of course," P'ed replied.

"Are you and your companions diplomats?"

P'ed gasped at Ezra's question.

"Quinlan?" Ezra growled.

"Just a second," Quinlan said pressing a button on the device in front of him.

A hologram appeared. The Laflureians all leaned in to get a better look.

"Ah, yes, here it is. The translator used the incorrect word for companion."

Quinlan highlighted another word and attached it to the Laflureian word. P'ed sighed in relief as she read the correct translation.

"Quinlan is very knowledgeable of our language," P'ed said.

"He is," Ezra replied.

"Thank you... P'ed," Quinlan said.

"And to answer your question, we are."

P'ed turned to the three male Laflureians and nodded at them.

"We will be leaving you now, my friend Ezra. Our Diplomats will now take over negotiations."

"I see," Ezra stood, looked at the three diplomats from the FOP. Only two of them were female. "I will have someone escort you to your ship."

"No need," Bid said.

The three male Laflureians stood together and were surrounded by a bright light. When the light disappeared, they were gone.

"You have teleportation?" Ezra asked the room at large.

"We do," P'ed replied.

"So many questions," Ezra said.

"We will answer them, once we diplomats have come to certain agreements," P'ed replied.

"Do you want our males to leave?" Ezra asked.

"If you would be so kind. Yet, we may need the services of Quinlan," P'ed replied.

"Very well. Quinlan, you stay, all the other men out," Ezra said.

"Admiral..." the male diplomat started to say.

"Out," Ezra said.

"Tanner, you will be staying and taking his place," Ezra said.

"Wouldn't..."

"No. You are it, Joyce. Just listen, if you see something they don't speak up. You are here with my authority. Do you understand that ladies?" Ezra asked the two female diplomats.

"We do, but..."

"No buts. You two will conduct the meeting. Joyce will listen and raise objection where she sees fit."

"Yes, sir."

"Admiral?" P'ed queried.

"Yes, P'ed."

"If you wish to stay also, that will be okay. My three... warriors have spoken highly of you as a diplomat."

"Thank you, P'ed. Tanner, you are still to speak if needed."

"Yes, sir."

"If you would like to have a warrior present, please feel free," Ezra said.

"Thank you, Admiral," P'ed said nodding.

She was silent for a second and the bright light returned. When it vanished, Bek D'lak stood there.

"Ladies, introduce yourselves to P'ed, please," Ezra said.

Chapter 186

Gillian was awake when Hunter went off over-watch. Cass didn't disturb her, knowing she was aware and awake. For the next twenty minutes, Gillian lay there thinking. She thought about how much had happened in the last year of her life. She had gone from a lowly Lieutenant of a fantastic one-man scout ship in an interstellar war, to a full Commander in charge of a squadron of scout ships on an exploration expedition. And right now, she was in charge of a five-ship group with 32 Marines under her command. She also found herself commanding two destroyers with Captains with far more experience and of a higher rank than she had, yet neither of them had complained in any way.

"Commander?" Cass queried.

"Cass?" Gillian wondered at her ship's formality.

"Colonel Owens is on his way over," Cass said.

"Ah, right. Let him in when he gets here."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Gillian got out of bed and pulled on a clean singlet. She was just finishing making her bunk when the hatch sighed open. She smiled at Cass letting her know like that. Turning she was standing, waiting for Laff to climb up the stairs.

"Morning Colonel," Gillian said smiling.

"Morning Commander," Laff replied also smiling. "What's up for today?"

"Grab a seat and we'll go over our options," Gillian told him. "Cass, any life signs other than what we have already seen?"

"None, ma'am."

"Do we move or explore the city toward the center?" Gillian asked.

"This was the only city that wasn't a crumbling mess, so there may be information somewhere that will tell us what happened," said Laff.

"Cass, can you tell if there is any electronic equipment that might still be in working order?"

"Wait one..." Cass said.

"Huh?" Laff grunted.

"She's scanning."

"Ah."

"There are electronics in our vicinity, yet I can't tell if they will work. I can sense their chips. I am not close enough to read the information stored therein. I can't even tell if they are storing anything worth looking at."

"Well, then, we take a hike toward the city center and away from that vampire plant," Gillian said.

"How many of us?" Laff asked.

"Marching orders... Wulver will fly ahead at altitude. Cass will fly directly overhead. We'll take ten Marines on the ground. Nóra will fly high cover over the encampment while Rider stays on the ground until needed. Hunter will fly between us and the encampment so she can help either at a moment's notice."

"Sounds good," Laff, said smiling at Gillian. "So, you, me, and ten Marines?"

"Is that enough, if Wulver has her full complement?"

"I would feel better with six more on the ground with us," Laff said.

"Then, make it so, Colonel," Gillian said, wondering where she heard that phrase before.

"Okay," Laff said opening the hatch and leaving.

Gillian stood there, watching his back as he disappeared down the ramp. Then the hatch was closing. Shaking her head, she went to her bunk and started putting on her combat gear. Pulling her rifle from the armory cabinet, she turned and walked down the stairs. Her two scout ship pilots were waiting for her.

"Pat, you're staying here. Jordan, you and Hunter will be coming with us, you will be flying between our rear and the camp, so you can be in either place quickly. Go," said Gillian.

Both pilots went running to their ships. Gillian stood looking around for Colonel Owens.

~~~~ WO ~~~~

The meetings were finally making some progress. It had been four days since the men had been shooed out of the conference room. All except Ezra and Quinlan. Quinlan only said something when the translators had difficulty with a word or phrase. Ezra kept quiet all on his own. He was amazed at how quickly the females of the Laflureians and the females of the humans came to agreements on trade, borders, and passage across borders.

When the printer in the corner of the conference room started to buzz, Ezra knew they were finished with business. Joyce got up and retrieved the documents from the printer. Placing them in front of Dawn Lewis, the lead human diplomat, she returned to her seat. Dawn quickly read the agreement. Printed in both English and Laflureian for everyone's convenience. When she finished reading, she signed and dated the document. She passed it to Valerie Thomas, the other human diplomat, who signed without reading. She then passed it to Joyce, she took a deep breath and signed her name with her rank. Joyce passed it back to the lead diplomat.

Sliding the document across the table, to P'ed Dawn nodded. As P'ed read the document, Dawn signed a second copy of the agreement passing it around to Val and Joyce. All the Laflureians had all signed it and P'ed was sliding it back across to the table. Dawn passed the copy to P'ed. The Laflureians all signed the second document. Dawn passed the first document back to P'ed as P'ed passed the second to Dawn.

"Admiral, we are finished with the agreement," Dawn said, passing the document to him.

"Very good. P'ed would you and your friends like a tour of Warrior One?" Ezra asked.

"That would be very nice. Your ship is the talk of all the warriors back on our planet."

"Joyce, if you would, please," Ezra said. Joyce nodded at him as she led the four Laflureians out of the conference room.

Ezra leaned back in his chair and started to read the agreement they were now obligated to abide by. Another neighbor to get along with.

"May I go, sir?" Quinlan asked.

"Oh, yes, yes, of course, Commander," Ezra replied, still reading as Quinlan left.

Chapter 187

Gillian was right behind Colonel Owens in line. There were two Marines out front, with two more between the point men and Gillian. They now headed into the heart of the city, hugging the front of the buildings as they went. This street once again lined with parked ground vehicles. The column of Marines was between the vehicles and the storefronts, watching up, to the left and behind, the column. They had been walking slowly for the last half an hour, hardly more than a kilometer away from base camp.

"Colonel, we need to pick it up a little, we're still within running distance of the camp," Gillian said over her shoulder.

"They're just being cautious but, you're right. Collins, pick up the pace, I doubt there is anyone in the buildings. Out into the street, line on each side, move," Laff said the last into his radio.

Half the Marines moved to the other side of the street on the street side of the vehicles. A man came running up, passing Gillian to replace one of the men upfront. The two lines now moved faster. The pace was a brisk walk.

"Cass, anything up ahead we should be worried about?" Gillian asked.

"No ma'am. We are coming up to what appears to be some type of shop for electronics. I'm sensing a lot of storage media," Cass replied.

"Let us know when we get there."

"Yes ma'am."

Cass moved ahead of the column and stopped. Gillian watched her ship as it slowly lowered itself over a building up ahead. Cass didn't say anything for a very long time. When she did, the column was now in front of the shop over which she hovered.

"Cass?" Gillian asked.

"Yes ma'am. Nothing here but low-end consumer electronics."

"Tech level?"

"Prior to the class wars, ma'am. Twenty years prior I would estimate."

"Any information on the devices?" Gillian asked.

"No, ma'am. It would appear that they were never initiated. The only thing present is the operating system and a few utilities."

"Thank you, Cass."

"Well, now what?" Laff asked.

"We continue. If they have this technology we should find some that has been in use."

"Right. Move out, straight ahead," Laff said pointing in the direction.

Everyone started walking. Not slowly, but not running. Cass rose up into the air and moved slowly forward. For the next five blocks, all was quiet. When Cass veered off to the right and disappeared.

"Cass, where are you going?" Gillian shouted into her radio.

"Wait one!" Was all that came back

"Shit!" Gillian swore.

Laff didn't say a word. Gillian just glared at him.

"I have found a tech center with petabytes of data," Cass said. "Four blocks west, two north, turn right at the next street."

"Move out Colonel," Gillian said.

"Move out," Laff yelled "Right at the next street, then on four blocks, then left, up two blocks."

~~~~ WO ~~~~

Ezra and Tanner were the first to enter the conference room. They both took seats. The two other FOP people came in right behind them. Not more than five seconds later, a bright flash of light came and went in an instant. The four Laflureians were standing behind their chairs. Ezra jumped up out of his seat. Tanner quickly followed him. The other two just sat there.

"On your feet people," Ezra said softly.

Nodding they hurried to stand.

"Thank you. We will discuss your lack of manners after this meeting," Ezra scolded.

Dawn and Val's eye widened. Tanner suppressed her giggling. Ezra shook his head at her scowling. P'ed just stood there.

"Please have a seat ladies," Ezra said.

P'ed cocked her head to the side squinting at him. Ezra closed his eyes shaking his head. Pressing the button on the comm.

"Commander Quinlan, please report to the topside conference room."

P'ed nodded, waiting. All of them waited, standing, looking at each other. Quinlan was in the conference room almost seconds after called. He set his translation device on the table. He turned looking at the Admiral.

"All I said was, 'please have a seat ladies.'"

In the air above the machine appeared the Laflureians text along with the English. Quinlan grunted and changed two words. He pressed a button.

"Say the phrase again, sir," Quinlan said.

"Please have a seat ladies."

P'ed smiled. Nodding she pulled her chair out and sat down.

"What did the translator think I said?" Ezra asked.

"I'll explain it to you later, sir," Quinlan replied.

"That bad?"

When Quinlan went to answer, Ezra held up his hand, forestalling the Commander from replying.

"P'ed, I hope everything with the agreement was satisfactory with your superiors?" Ezra asked.

"It was. We are just here today to conclude our meetings and to schedule our talks on further trade agreements at some time in the future."

"I see. Then we will be going as we have other duties in other parts of the Federation."

"That is what we would like to talk about today, your Federation."

"What would you like to know?"

"Everything," P'ed said.

Ezra raised his eyebrows as he nodded.